Index device.



l. H. RAND.Vv

INDEX DEVICE.

APPucATloN man ulm/11.1918.

1,302,850. v v Patented May 6,1919.

ANl7

" UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

.miens H. nenn-for Nourri ToNawANnn, NEW Yoan.

INDEX DEVICE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May e, 191e.

Application led May 17, 1918. Serial No. 235,110.

' overlapped spaced relation with their` margins exposed to view fordisplaying names or other index characters.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention,

Figure 1 is a horizontal cross section of a preferred form of the frame;A

Fig. 2 is a face view of the frame partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a face view of one of the cards or index elements;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of part of the frame on line 4:-4 ofFig. 2, showing a number of nested or interlocked index elementstherein; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross section of a detail showing a modificationof the frame.

In order to secure an index of the largest possible capacity it hasheretofore been the practice to provide a double faced frame or panel,that is, to provide lboth the obverse and reverse sides of the framewith the several structural features adapting the frame to receive andhold the index elements.` This has usually been accomplished by makingtwo similar single faced frame members, each having a sheet metal backand its own marginal flanges fpr engaging the index elements, andfastenlng the two members together back to back to form a double facedstructure. The 'resulting frame has a double or two ply body, isnecessarily too thick and bulky for the greatest economy of space wherea large number of frames are used' in the same equipment, and demandstoo great weight and cost of material. The principal objects of thepresent invention are to provide a structure'y which shall be lighter,thinner and more compact than heretofore, while possessing thefunctional characteristics of double frames heretofore proposed, andwhich shall inake it possible to use a single ply body of sheetmaterial, provided on bolli sides with recessed `channels for thesupporting and sparing tabs oi' opposite directions.

theindex elements, at the same time securing the thinnest possiblestructure from face to face when the index elements are in place.

The index frame comprises a single ply body A of sheet metal, or othersuitable sheetmaterial, having longitudinal marginal anges on both facesof the body to engage lateral projections on the index elements and holdthe index elements in the frame.

The body A is bent to form a pair of shallow, lengthwise extendingchannels on each face of the frame, depressed below the plane P of thebody A, the pair of channels on the obverse side of the frame beingindicated at B, B, and the pair of channels on the reverse side beingindicated at C, C. The channels of each pair are disposed at oppositesides of the central longitudinal axis X-X of the frame, and the twopairs B, B and C, C, on opposite faces of the frame are laterally offsetwith relation to said central axis, to a similar 'extent but in Thus,when facing either sideof the frame the lateral o'set of the pair ofchannels B, B, or U, C, as the case may be, is in the same direction,namely,

to the left of the central axis, as shown in the drawings, thusproducing two identical faces adapted to receive identical cards or kindex elements.

In the preferred form the marginal flanges D are formed of separatestrips of sheet metal secured to the body of the frame by riveting,welding, or soldering. These provide the usual grooves or guide channelsfor receiving the ends of lateral projections on the index elements tohold the latter in the frame. The flanges D may be of any usual orpreferred cross section, that herein shown being the subject of-aseparate application Ser. No. 229,031, filed-April 17, 1918. The cardsor index elements, which maylbe of cardboard, sheet Celluloid, or othervsuitable sheet material, comprise each a body E,y having lateralprojections F, F, `adjacent to one margin to engage the flanges D, D, atthe sides of the frame. The body E may also lbe provided, if desired,with projections G, G, adjacent to the opposite or free margin, toresten the outer faces of the langes.- Flach index element also has a pairof supporting and spacing tabs, Il, Il, preferably eut from the body oftheeleinent and bent slightly to project from the body,'to engage theedge of the next adj accnt elen'icnt l spaced relation. The tabs H, H,of each element are disposed at opposite sides of the central verticalaxis Y, "Y, of the element, and the pair of tabs is laterally offsetwith relation to said central axis in the same direction and tosubstantially the same extent as the corresponding channels ofthe frame.Thus the projecting tabs H, H, will register with, and extend into thechannels B, B, or C, C, according as the elements are applied to oneside or the other of the frame. The

channels prevent the tabs from bearing withl undue pressure against theback or body of the frame, thereby reducing friction or binding andaording freedom of motion when the elements are slid lengthwise of theframe, and at the same time under certain conditions aiding to guide theelements and keep them from twisting or cramping as they slide in theframe. 'Entries may be placed directly on the cards E, or, if it isdesired to keep them merely as holders for other cards or sheets, theymay be equipped with any usual or preferred means for holding adetachablel insert card or sheet on which the entries may be written.

By offsetting the channels laterally in opposite directions on oppositefaces of the frame, and similarly offsetting the tabs H, H, thethickness of the structure from face to face is reduced to a minimum, asingle ply body A may be used and cards or index elements of identicalform may be used at pleasure on both faces of the frame.

Instead of making both flanges D of separate strips of material, oneange, D-, may be bent up from the body A of the frame and the other madeof a separate piece of material and fastened to the body, as lshown inFig. 5.

Reference is made to myv copending application Serial No. 195,700, filedOctober 10, 1917, wherein channels in the back of the frame forreceiving the supporting and spacing tabs of the index elements areclaimed more generically.

I claim:

1. An index frame comprising a body of sheet material having a pair oflengthwise extending channels on each, 4face of the frame, the channelsof each pair being disposed at opposite sides of the centrallongitudinal axisof the frame, and the pairs on the opposite faces ofthe frame being laterally and similarly offset in opposite directionswith relation to said central axis.

2. An index frame comprising a body of sheetmaterial having a pair oflengthwise extending channels on each face of the frame, the channels ofeach pair being disposed at opposite. sides of the central longitndinalaxis of the frame, and the pairs on the opposite faces of the fra-mebeing laterally and similarly offset in opposite direc- 1,aos,sso

. gitudinal marginal flanges on both faces of the body, one at least ofwhich at each margin of the frame is formed of a Separate strip of sheetmaterial secured to the body.

4. An index frame comprising a body of sheet material having a pair oflengthwise extending channels on each face of the frame, the channels ofeach pair being disposed at opposite sides of the cent-ral longitudinalaxis of the frame, the pairs on the opposite faces of the frame beinglaterally and similarly .offset in opposite directions with relation tosaid central axis, and longitudinal marginal flanges on both faces ofthe body formed of separate strips of sheet material secured tothe'body.

5. An index frame comprising a single ply body of sheet material bent toform a pair of lengthwise extending channels on each face of the frame,the channels of each pair being disposed at opposite sides of thecentral longitudinal axis of the frame, and the pairs on the oppositefaces of the frame being laterally and similarly offset in oppositedirections with relation to said central axis.

Y(i. An index comprising a frame having a body of Sheet materialprovided With a pair of lengthwise extending channels on each face ofthe frame, the channels of each pair being disposed at opposite sides ofthe central longitudinal axis of the frame, and the airs on the opposites'ides o f the frame bemg laterally and similarly offset in oppositedirections with relation to said central axis, and a series of indexelements each having a pair of supporting and spacing tabs projectingfrom the body of the element to engage and support the next adjacentelement. in overlapped spaced relation, each pair of said tabs beinglaterally offset with relation to the central vertical axis of theelement to correspond with the offsets of the channels, whereby saidindex elements may be applied to either side of the frame with theirtabs registering with the channels.

trame being laterally and similarly odset in opposite directions withrelation to said central axis, and a series of 'index elements eachhaving a pair of supporting and spacing tabs projecting from the loodyof the element to engage and support the next adjacent element inoverlapped spaced relation, each pair of said ytabs. being 'laterallyodset with relation to the central Vertical axis of the element tocorrespond with the odsets of the channels, whereby said index elementsmay be applied to either side of the frame with their talosregisteringwitln the channels. i

8. An index element of sheet material hav- 15 ing;` a pair of supportingand spacing tabs projecting from4 the body of lthe element,- jsaid tabsbeing disposed at opposite sides of the central Vertical axis of theelement, and the pair of tabs being laterally odset Wlth 2o relation tosaid central axis.

Signed by me at North Tonawanda, N. Y. Y this 14th day of May 1918. i lJAMES H. RAND.

